Have you ever chipped a tooth? It’s pretty easy to do unintentionally. Whether you accidentally bumped into something or were injured playing sports, little everyday accidents can cause unsightly chips. Sometimes you get away with a small chip on your tooth that you can hardly see. Maybe you shrug it off and hope that no one notices. But other times, you may end up with a very noticeable chip in your tooth.
While you might not love the appearance of a chipped tooth, do you ever wonder whether it’s actually bad for your teeth?
Chipping a tooth is certainly not a good thing. Aside from the vanity aspect, it can be very detrimental to your oral health. By chipping a tooth, you lose tooth structure and can also leave the tooth vulnerable to additional cracks and chips in the future. Those broken pieces leave your teeth vulnerable to additional damage whether that be from an accident or everyday activities such as eating or even brushing your teeth.
Is a chipped tooth repair considered a dental emergency?
What matters most when determining how bad the chip in your tooth is the extent of the damage.
A larger chip means a more challenging problem to fix, so you need to see your dentist as soon as possible. With a smaller chip, you can wait a little longer, but you should still be careful not to wait too long.
The truth is that the extent of damage caused by the chipped tooth is the only way to determine how impactful it will be your oral health or appearance. Luckily, your dentist can help fix your chipped tooth depending on its severity.
How can your dentist fix a chipped tooth?
Your dentist needs to repair the chips in your teeth soon after they happen. With very minor chips, modern bonding techniques, with the help of a tooth-colored filling material, can help fix your tooth and help it look normal again.
Larger chips are more problematic. These may require either a crown or veneer to fix. This is largely due to the fact that larger chips cause damage to the structure of your teeth which can cause additional problems.
So the next time you chip your tooth, your best bet is to go to your dentist as soon as possible. This way, they attack and correct the problem before it worsens later on.
If you are worried about a chipped tooth or have other concerns, call Implantation Dental Center at our Plantation, FL office today and schedule an appointment. Dr. Hervas and his expert team can assess the damage to your tooth and create a treatment plan to resolve the issue.
